Max Dowman has been training with the first team since he was 14, while Arsenal have been extremely careful not to overexpose one of the most talked-about players to emerge from their Hale End academy. Only last month, Dowman was sent off playing for England’s under-19s against the USA after a poorly timed tackle that most present at the behind-closed-doors match deemed a harsh decision.
Part of Arteta’s frustration will be that Dowman took the bait. Arteta has warned the record-teenager that he would have to deal with mounting pressure as his reputation has grown, and he also knows opponents will now target Dowman even more to see whether they can provoke a reaction.
During a recent fixture, Dowman was dismissed for violent conduct. According to the laws of the game, this occurs when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.
The challenge will be how Dowman responds to the extra scrutiny, both on and off the pitch, that is bound to come his way.
Arms folded across his chest like an angry father who has caught his teenage son sneaking in after midnight, Arteta leaned over and aimed a few choice words in Dowman’s direction before the forward headed sheepishly down the tunnel.
Those players are going to attract players, contact, attention and they have to be very smart about when you want that contact and when you don’t want it, and what you have to do to avoid it.” Asked how Dowman tends to react, he said: “He just gets up …
Only last month Dowman was sent off playing for England’s under-19s against the USA after a poorly timed tackle that most present at the behind-closed-doors match deemed a harsh decision.
He has been training with the first team since he was 14 and Arsenal have been extremely careful not to overexpose one of the most talked-about players to emerge from their Hale End academy.
It was Dowman's second red card this month having also been sent off while representing England's Under-19s.